Compressive Vascular Disorders of the Upper Limbs A Preliminary Report

Abstract

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Only those patients were included in the study who had non-vasospastic upper limb vascular occlusive disorders. Therefore patients suffering from generalized vascular disease or arteriopathies were excluded. Most patients were referred by the Orthopedic, Surgical and Neurological Departments. The remainder was referred by the local G.Ps. All patients were admitted routinely via the Outpatients Department except for one patient (RI) who presented with an arterial embolism.

DISCUSSION:
In relation to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome produced by a mechanical restriction of  vascular outflow, Gruss and many other authors (1,2,3,4, 5) reported that classical Adson’s test was positive in 95% of their cases. We found, in our series, that unlike the protocol used by Adson, the angle of arm abduction required for obliteration of Radial pulse ranged from 45 degrees to 110 degrees. We are now suggesting that the discrepancy may have been caused by ethnic skeletal differences. Only a large enough series, with the continuation of this study, can confirm this for us.